Translation guide
The English word 'sufferer' refers to someone who experiences pain, illness, or hardship. In Japanese, there is no single direct equivalent; the best translation depends on what the person is suffering from. Common approaches include using compound nouns with 患者 (patient), 被害者 (victim), or descriptive phrases.
To refer to someone who has a specific illness or chronic condition.
He has been living as a cancer sufferer for many years.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'a person suffering from ~'. More formal/literary than 患者.
People suffering from heart disease can use this medicine.
To refer to someone who has been harmed by an external event or circumstance.
Standard term for 'victim' of a crime, accident, disaster, etc. Often used in news reports.
The earthquake sufferers are living in evacuation shelters.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'people suffering from ~'. Suitable for broader hardships like poverty or discrimination.
To refer to someone experiencing mental anguish, grief, or trauma.
To refer to someone with a specific allergy or non-life-threatening condition in everyday conversation.
Casual suffix meaning 'person with ~'. Used for allergies, chronic conditions, or personality traits. E.g., 花粉症持ち (hay fever sufferer).
I'm a hay fever sufferer, so spring is tough.
English often uses 'sufferer' as a standalone noun (e.g., 'allergy sufferer'), but Japanese almost always requires specifying the condition or using a compound. Avoid trying to translate 'sufferer' in isolation.
患者 is for medical patients or those with diseases. 被害者 is for victims of external events (crimes, accidents, disasters). Do not mix them up: a 'cancer sufferer' is がん患者, not がん被害者.
It's an organization that supports people suffering from poverty.
We need understanding for people suffering from mental illness.